Chapter 2

Gotheburgh 11 September - 12 September

Oh my head. It hurts like hell and I feel really groggy. I open my eyes and see that I am now in one of the very large cages. I am still transformed into the chupacabra and absolutely want to get out of the cage. I see the cage is very stable and difficult if not impossible to escape from.

The cage is quite large so I feel that I can move around fairly freely after all. My wings move a little. Sometimes I wag my tail, the way cats do when they're irritated.

I see Peter standing and talking on the phone some distance away. After a short while he ends the call. He seems calm and collected. I stand up and hiss at him. It doesn't take long before he turns to face me.
- Ah amigo. So you have woken up again. We will have visitors in a moment.

I try to speak but no words come out of my mouth just a drawn out growl. Maybe just as well. There would have been no kind words if I had been able to speak. Peter still seems to understand the meaning of my growl.

- Ah, but brother. We shouldn't be like that now. Think about how cool you are instead.

I,m very hungry and deceived. I stand up on my hind legs and glare at Peter.

- Oh, of course you're hungry. Wait a moment. You should get the best of the best.

Peter leaves the room and after a while I think I hear a funny noise from the corridor. It gets closer and soon Peter enters along with a rather large goat. Peter leads the goat towards my cage. At first, the goat just seems happy and happily follows along, but as it gets closer, it is noticeable that it becomes afraid of me. However, Peter pushes it forward relentlessly and soon it is right outside my cage.

- Brother. If you're calm, I'll open and let the goat in for you, but if you argue, then I'll use this one, he says, pointing at an electric rod that I understand gives shocks.

I reluctantly pull myself back into the cage so he can let the goat in. I don't really want to but I'm so hungry that I accept it. At least for now.

The cage door opens and Peter pushes the goat in, then quickly closes it. The goat is terrified. It shows. I floor it quickly. Finds a place where its skin is very soft. The thing in the mouth shoots out and starts drinking the blood from the goat.

The dog's blood was quite good, but the goat's blood is something very special. A pure pleasure. Yes, almost like a feast. If I hadn't been so hungry, I would have enjoyed the meal more, but now it won't be like that.

It doesn't take long until the goat is completely drained of blood. I'll leave it where it is. After a while, Peter comes and takes it out of my cage. He wants to take a blood test on me. I hiss angrily at him but he takes the test anyway.

Peter sits and checks the test and gives a thumbs up. Whatever he sees, he is satisfied with it.

- This looks good. Just as I hoped.

There is a ringing from some door. Peter gets up and looks out into the corridor.

- Look at that. Now we have a nice guest from Spain. I will show you to him. If you behave well, you might get an extra goat later, but if you mess up...

I understand exactly what he means. To come up with such blackmail. He should be ashamed. I snort at him.

- Exactly, by the way. I have a device that translates what we say. Just going to pick it up.

It takes a while but soon Peter comes in with a metallic box. He puts it right near my cage. Then he speaks a little English and I hear the translation immediately. Think how technology advances. Peter changes so I hear translation from Spanish to Swedish

There is a knock on the door to the lab. There's a younger guy standing there who definitely looks Mexican. He even has such clothes that they often have there.
He walks up to Peter and greets him cheerfully.

- Hola mi amigo. Mucho tiempo desde la última vez que nos vimos
(Hey buddy. Long time since we last saw each other)

- Hola a ti. Fue hace un tiempo.
(Hello. It's been a while.)

- ¿El viaje aquí tomó mucho tiempo?
(Did the trip here take a long time?)

- No tomó tanto tiempo. A total unas tres horas.
(It didn't take that long. All in all, about three hours.)

- Me gustaría mostrarles algo que tengo aquí.
(I would like to show you something that I have here.

- Que emocionete. A menudo ofreces buenas sorpresas.
(How exciting. You often offer good surprises.)

- Eso es correcto. Review aquí la jaula más cercana a nosotros y verás algo muy interesante.
(That's right. Check the cage here closest to us and you'll see something very interesting.)

The younger Mexican guy turns and sees me. His eyes widen and he takes a deep breath.

- Es donde creo que es? Debería sees imposible
(Is that where I think it is? It should be impossible.)

- Eso es exactamente lo que parece. Un chupacabra viviente de toda la vida.
(That's exactly what it looks like. A living chupacabra of a lifetime.

- Ay dios mío. Nunca pensé que vería un Chupacabras en vivo de toda la vida.
(But oh my. I never thought I'd see a live Chupacabra of a lifetime)

- ¿Bebe sangre de cabra como suelen hacer?
(Does he drink goat blood like they usually do?)

- Sí, él lo hace. Ten muy buen apetito.
(Yes he does. Has a really good appetite.)

-¿Puede volar? Tiene alas grandes.
(Can he fly? He has big wings.)

- No lo sé. Aún no lo he comprobado.
(I don't know. I haven't checked it yet.)

- ¿Está a la venta? Me gustaria mucho comprarlo.
(Is he for sale. I would very much like to buy him)

- No lo siento. Hasta ahora es only una demonstration de prueba. Es un humano transformedo y necesito hacerle más pruebas primero.
(No unfortunately. So far he's just a test demo. It's a human transformed and I need to do more tests with him first.)

I am not happy when I hear that more tests will be done on me. I feel it has been enough as it has already been.

- Qué vergüenza. Por lo demás, se ve absolutamente perfecto.
(What a shame. He looks absolutely perfect otherwise.)

- Si, por supuesto que lo hace. Absolutely asustaría a mi abuela.
(Yes of course he does. He would absolutely scare the crap out of my grandmother.)

- ¿Puedes obtener una demonstration de cómo trabaja fuera de la jaula?
(Can you get a demonstration of how he works outside the cage?)

- No ahora. Todavía no confío en él al cien por cien. ¿Pero tal vez la próxima semana o algo salga bien?
(Not right now. I don't trust him 100 percent yet. But maybe next week or something will go well?)

- Eso sería genial para mí. Creo que eso lo decidimos.
(That would be great for me. I think we'll decide that.)

- Funciona bien para mí. Yes, nos vemos la próxima semana y luego otra vez.
(Goes well for me. Well then, see you next week then again.)

- Si adiós. Tómatelo con calma durante tanto tiempo con él. No quiero ver un naufragio cuando llegue.
(Yes bye. Take it easy on him for now. I don't want to see a wreck when I arrive.)

The younger Mexican walks out of the room and carefully closes the door. Peter walks up to me. He looks very happy.

- You see how good it is when you are calm. You kept calm so now you will get a bonus in a while. I just have to get the goat first.

Peter leaves the room and I am alone again. I definitely don't want to be in this cage for another week. Not even another day, really. I want to go home to my wife and kids. Wonder how they are doing right now.

I'm starting to study my cage a little more closely. The ceiling looks pretty heavy but how do I get up that high? The Mexican talked something about flying. Maybe time to try your wings.

I don't have time to think about it too much because Peter comes with a goat. It is white with black dots. So cute, in fact, that you'd rather pet it than drink its blood. The goat bleats as goats usually do. So far it has not caught sight of me.

Peter gently leads the goat towards my cage. It panics when it sees me, but Peter is very strong and holds it tight so it can't escape.

- Back up a bit so I can open the cage.

I back further into the cage and Peter opens the cage door and lets the goat in. The door closes again and the goat and I are alone in there. The thing in my mouth shoots out and I drink the goat's blood. This time I'm not as hungry as before so now I rather enjoy the taste.

Goat's blood is like the world's best chocolate in liquid form, of course. I close my eyes and enjoy the good blood. A small sound makes me open them again. Peter is filming with his mobile phone. I'm not particularly surprised by that.

When the goat's blood runs out and it's dead, I let it fall to the floor. After a while, Peter opens the cage door and takes the goat out. Then he goes to a computer and writes a lot. I don't know what he writes but he seems efficient.

I wonder what time it is. There is no clock in the lab as far as I can see and none of the windows in the lab face the outdoors. Instead, I see another corridor in the far window. From where I entered the lab is a reasonably good distance to freedom.

The door to the lab opens and soon I see a cleaning lady come in and she starts wiping the floors in the lab. Peter doesn't even look up at her, still engrossed in his computer.

The cleaning lady sees me and is terrified. I try to calm her down by smiling and touching her hand as if I'm saying hello but she misunderstands what I'm trying to say through facial expressions.

- Lucky that that one is behind bars. It looks horrible.
- Mmm. Don't bother him and he won't bother you.
- It has very large teeth and claws.
- Yes Yes. Are you done soon?
- I work as fast as I can. Wow, how nasty it looks.

Peter is clearly annoyed that the cleaning lady is commenting on me. He stares into her eyes.

- Just so you know. That one is secret. If I hear you say a word about it, your job is over. Do you understand?
- Yes. I want nothing to do with it.
- Good then.

She continues to clean while Peter keeps his eyes on her. After a while, she is done and walks out of the lab. Peter sits down at the computer again and writes. I notice he starts to yawn a few times. Maybe he'll be home soon.

- No. Now we finish for today. Like that.

Peter turns off the computer and goes to a storage room located in the lab. He's rooting for something in there. After a while he comes out again and has a fairly large tablet in his hand. It is round and completely white. Peter gets his electric wand and walks over to me. The electric wand in one hand and the tablet in the other.

- You have been really good today. Now there are just a few things I have to do with you before I go home and I'll see you again tomorrow. You will get this tablet here. It's called Xala and causes you to transform back. I'm going to put it in your mouth. If you try to bite my hand off, it will only make you sad. I can still replace it in that case but it hurts.

Peter waves his wand menacingly and then rolls up the sleeve of his shirt. Most of the arm turns out to be a prosthesis. I wonder if there have been more like me here before. Peter seems to know how I work even though I transformed too soon according to him.

- Well. Open wide.

I gape wide and he puts the tablet in my mouth and I swallow it. I have a big throat so it goes down easily. It tastes a bit funny, but it doesn't matter much.

It takes about a quarter of an hour before I start to transform back. It feels very strange when the wings retract and the spines retract one by one. It hurts when the teeth and claws get smaller. The tail is retracted. Soon I'll be standing there as an ordinary person.

I'm completely naked and I don't feel comfortable with it at all. I also wonder what time it is.

- Can you fix clothes and a watch please?
- Sure. Just wait a moment.

Peter heads to the storeroom again. It doesn't take long before he comes back with some white coat. About the kind that nurses have. The door to the cage opens and Peter throws the coat in for me.

He goes back to the storage room and brings with him a larger barrel and a large Pet bottle. He fills Pet's bottle with water and walks in to me.

- Here you have a barrel that you can use as a toilet. I'll empty it tomorrow morning. Here you have fresh water.

Peter goes and gets a large clock which he puts on a chair so I can see it easily. The time is 5:30 p.m. The children are probably home now. I would love to go home and see the whole family.

- Can I go home? I want to meet my family.
- Nope. It's not possible. The risk that you will abscond or do something is far too great.
- They can't come here instead?
- No sorry. It's not possible. Didn't you read the fine print before signing?

I hadn't seen any fine print on any paper at all so I'm shaking my head.

- When will I be able to come home then?
- Can't answer that. But given that the Mexican wants to buy you, you may have to get used to a completely new life.
- And if I refuse to be bought by him then?
- I can't give you an answer to that yet. You'll have to wait and see what happens.

Peter suddenly gets something strange in his eyes. He seems to be thinking about something.

- Today when you came you said that something strange had happened. Tell me what it was.
- Last night I turned into the werechupacabra for the first time and drank my neighbor's dog's blood but I thought I was dreaming at first but when I saw the dog's corpse this morning I understood that it was not a dream.
- I'll be damned. I read a bit about the dog's death earlier today. That's one reason I can't let you go yet. A police investigation leading here is not acceptable.
- I have neither given a saliva sample nor fingerprints to the police.
- Sounds good. But the risk that they would want to question you is high because it was your neighbor's dog. Even if you pop a lot of Xala, there is a risk that you can be turned into the creature at the police. And then it won't be fun, neither for you nor for me.
- Why did you turn me back?
- I do not trust you. You are stronger when you are the werechupacabra and could possibly have found some way to get out of the cage. Also, I can't feed you during the night. You need at least one goat to suck blood from during the night if you're transformed but as a human you don't need that. Your metabolism is super fast when you're a werechupacabra.
- Where does the tablet Xala come from? Sweden?
- It is imported from Spain. It is not available for purchase at regular pharmacies in Sweden, but in Spain you can get hold of it reasonably easily.
- Have you turned others into varchupacabra?
- Yes, but they have not survived, for various reasons. But you will survive, I know that.
- Did one of them bite your arm?
- Yes. But I have a prosthesis now so it's okay. No, now I unfortunately have to leave you. See you tomorrow.

Peter closes the cage door and turns off some lights. Then he walks out of the lab. I hear the door close and the lock click. After a while, three short beeps are heard. Presumably the room is alarmed and Peter just set the alarm.

I am alone in the room. The only lighting that is on is two spotlights over by his table. Even though it's dark, I can see the hands of the clock well. I sit on the floor with my hands on my face. I don't want to be here anymore.

I feel the need to pee so I get up and go to the barrel and relieve myself. I'm surprised that I didn't have to defecate when I was transformed, but that could be because the metabolism is so high that it's not necessary.

When I'm done, I sit down on the floor again. Even though it's a tiled floor, it doesn't feel cold. I suspect it has underfloor heating or something.
When it's 7 p.m., I know for sure that the children are home and have eaten. They are probably watching some children's program right now. Hopefully they have done their homework first. I wonder if anyone has started looking for me yet.

I know I had my cell phone in my pants when I got here. The question is whether Peter has switched off my mobile or not. I can't see my clothes anywhere in the lab. Maybe they are in some type of storage.

The hands on the clock drag on and when it shows 21 I feel a great loneliness. I know that's when we usually put the kids to bed. Even though they go to school, I usually sit and talk to them before they go to sleep. Oskar is the one who talks the most. Melinda usually fixes things in the kitchen while I'm busy.

I decide to try to sleep. I lay down on the floor and find a sleeping position that feels okay. If there had only been a pillow here I would have been happy, but there isn't one. I should have asked for one before Peter left. Now it is too late.

I actually fall asleep quickly. A lot has happened during the day so the brain is quite tired. I sleep until 02.30 when I wake up with an unpleasant feeling. There is something that bothers me.

I look around but see nothing funny and try to go back to sleep. But it does not work. I miss the kids so much. I am always close to them. Or am I really?

When I think about it, I realize that is not true. Many times I have hardly sat by their beds and really listened to what they have said. What was Oskar so happy about last week? Surely it was that he was accepted to the football camp or was it something else? I'm searching my memory but honestly can't remember what it was, unless it was about the football camp.

Did we actually look up if Eli got beaten up at the school disco? The answer should be an obvious yes, but I'm not sure if it's been checked or not. Of course, it's not just my responsibility. Melinda checks and fixes, of course, too.

Speaking of Melinda, when was the last time we even slept with each other? Even if we are married and already have two children, you can have sex because it's so nice. When we went to bed for the past year, we just said goodnight and went to sleep. We haven't even talked to each other in quite a while.

In the kitchen, we always have our assigned places. There is no point in even discussing who should sit where. It's so familiar that you don't think about it.

I am aware that this time of day, which is now, is called the hour of the wolf. That's when those thoughts come out, especially if you're not in your own safe bed in your own safe house.

I decide here and now, that when I come back, things will change. I need to listen more to the kids and Melinda and I need to start talking to each other again. Not that kind of loose talk but for real. Maybe we should change our seats in the kitchen. So be it.

I get up and do a little bowel movement. Then I go to bed again. It's easier to fall asleep now that I've thought about how me and my family are doing.

I wake up to the door to the lab opening and I hear Peter's happy voice.

- Rise and shine. It's seven o'clock, time to start work.

Peter opens my cage and gets the barrel. He quickly closes the cage door again and stands looking at me.

- Slept well?
- Reasonably good. But tonight I probably want a pillow to put my head on.
- It will probably work out, you'll see.

I feel angry because I'm trapped in here and it won't be long before I start turning into the werechupacabra.

- Nice. Gonna get the goat for you. You be calm and nice, okay.

My skin becomes reptilian and takes on a brown/green color. I see my nails turning into big claws. The teeth are cramping and I feel them grow in my mouth while my head begins to change shape. I can't see the tail yet but I can feel it growing out the back. It feels as if something is happening to the back and neck. It's those sharp thorns and my wings growing out. The ears are pulled up higher on the head and I can hear things much better than before. Finally, I feel the tube-shaped thing settle by the tongue in my mouth. I growl deeply and it echoes in the room. My coat has been torn in the transformation and it is on the floor in some rags. Those thorns must be razor sharp, I think,

I soon hear a goat bleating out in the hallway and it doesn't take long for Peter to come in with it. He opens my cage and lets the goat in for me. The blood tastes divinely good.

After Peter takes the dead goat out of my cage, he takes a blood test on me. I can't help but hiss at him as he sticks the needle into my reptilian body. Peter doesn't comment on my hissing.

He sits down at the computer and writes a lot. I wonder what he writes about me. Positive things? Negative stuff? I wish he could explain more what the work actually entails. Why he chose me and the previous others.

When it is 9 o'clock, Peter disappears for a while. I'm guessing he's having breakfast or something. I am alone in my thoughts. An idea forms in my head. The Mexican who was here yesterday asked if I could fly. Maybe time to test your wings? Sure, why not.

I stand in the middle of the cage where I can move the easiest and then I start moving the wings. It's not as easy to get them to move as the tail but after a while I can flap my wings pretty well. They make quite a lot of noise when I flap them. But so far I haven't lifted off the floor. I probably have to jump up while flapping.

I brace my back legs as hard as I can and jump up while flapping like crazy and sure enough, I slowly start to lift off the ground. Wow, like. This is progress, I think. I hope Peter thinks the same. I land calmly on the ground again when I stop flapping.

Peter comes back around 9.30. He smells of coffee so I understand that he has just had coffee. Oh, I would like coffee right now too. I wonder if there is some type of image surveillance of my cage. In that case, Peter can see that I managed to fly a little. If not, it will be a surprise if I show him later.

Peter continues typing on his computer. A cell phone rings. It's not mine. Peter takes a cell phone out of his pocket and answers.

- Hey. Hi there Magne. Everything ok with you?

I can't hear what the person is saying but after a while the conversation becomes more interesting.

- Yes, yes. It's a success. I can promise you that. He is a bit grumpy, but that will probably settle down after a while. I already have an interesting potential buyer of him.
- I know. We must try to solve that problem. It doesn't seem like his family or work friends know who I am anyway.
- Who would believe someone who is disabled? They have no idea at all, I promise.
- And what hot tips do the police have then? He is not even in their records.
- That's just talk to scare those who have something to hide, but it doesn't work on me.
- If Melinda becomes a problem, you have to solve it somehow.
- I am aware of the risks. You don't think I can make my own decisions do you?
- This one is strong. He will survive. I promise it won't be like Love.
- Just hang up. Come here and question me like this. Goodbye!

Peter looks pissed as he hangs up on his cell phone. He looks away at me.

- Just a few minor issues that need to be resolved. Nothing to worry about.

I don't agree with him. If Melinda is a problem for them, I will fight against Peter. He shouldn't be allowed to believe he can do anything with anyone. I am not surprised when I understand that Kalle at the nursing home for the disabled has missed me and knows more than the staff do. They are smarter than many people think.

The hours pass and when it's around 12, Peter walks up to my cage.

- Well. Now its time for food again. You keep calm and everything will be fine.

Peter goes off and gets another goat. It won't be long before I hear it roaring out there. Peter comes in with the goat and lets it into my cage.

It doesn't take me long to suck all the blood out of the goat. I leave it there on the floor and Peter takes it out. The blood is still very good but now it's starting to feel like pure routine and I'm getting tired of nothing interesting happening.

- So. Now you are full and satisfied. Now I'm going to lunch. You stay calm here in the meantime.

Peter walks out of the lab and I'm alone again. I don't really know what to do, but soon I will remember this thing about flying. I might as well practice it instead of just standing and staring.

I brace my back legs harder than I did before and jump upwards while flapping my wings as fast as I can. This time I lift off the ground faster. I rise.. rise.. until I hit my head on the ceiling. Kind of stupid of me not to think about that piece of metal in the ceiling. I land on my hind legs after the fall. At least I have good balance

I wonder how solid the piece of metal in the ceiling is. Yesterday I thought it looked a little bent. I raise my clawed hands to the piece of metal in the ceiling and try to push it up or at least touch it. It is not as folded as it first appeared to be. It is possible to move it a little, but certainly not enough to be able to get out of here. The door to the cage is also very stable.

I don't have time to study any more weaknesses because Peter is coming back to the lab. He seems pleased with himself.

- Oh man. Today they served good barbacoa. The foodies really know Spanish food.

The day progresses slowly. When it's 3 p.m., Peter picks up a goat again. I greedily drink its blood while Peter stands outside the cage grinning. He seems to think this is great fun. He probably wouldn't like it if I drank his blood.

The cleaning lady comes around 16. She is upset about something.

- Can you imagine the nasty things we have here in the building?
- No what?
- Someone had shitted on the floor in the toilet and I had to wipe it up.
- Ugh, how disgusting. Pissing on the floor is easily done but shit. That's sort of the limit.
- One wonders if they do that at home too.
- I don't care how they do at home, but at work you have to keep a better eye. Maybe they wanted to tease you or something.
- They would have received my broom handle in the face in that case. Is that beast still around?
- Yes. He's going to stay here for quite a while. But clean up and don't worry about him.

The cleaner starts cleaning while Peter is at his computer writing a lot of things. After a short time the cleaning lady leaves again.

When it is almost 5.15pm, Peter switches off his computer and walks away towards the storeroom. He is looking for something. When he comes over to my cage, he has several things with him. A new white coat that I can wear, A pillow, the Xala tablet, a water bottle and the barrel for needs.

I get the Xala tablet first. I swallow it with no problem. It takes about 10 minutes before I'm normal again. Peter opens the cage and sets the barrel and gives me the pillow and the new coat. He takes out the tattered coat that I involuntarily tore this morning.

Peter closes the cage door and walks over to the lab door.

- Bye Bye. See you again tomorrow.

The lab door closes and the lock clicks. I'm surprised when I don't hear the three beeps today. Does that mean he forgot the alarm? The chance that I can escape is still not very great. Especially not now that I'm an ordinary person.

I'm thinking about that piece of metal on the ceiling. I get up and try to reach it. A centimeter or two is missing. I put the pillow under my feet and try again. Almost.

I look at the barrel to be used for needs. That I didn't think of it before. I turn the barrel upside down and stand on it. Now I can reach up to the piece of metal with no problem.

There are some nuts and screws on the piece. I try to turn the nuts and bolts but they are too tight and I only have my fingers as tools. I push my hands up against the bit as hard as I can but absolutely nothing happens. I try to pull it aside. Nada.

Finally I give up. It won't be possible to escape that way anyway. I turn the barrel so it stands as it should.

When it's around 8pm I decide to try to sleep. The brain needs to think through different stuff i,ve heard and seen today. It doesn't take long before I fall asleep.